Airplane multiple control recorder



July 28, '1942. w. N. KELLOGG ET AL AIRPLANE MULTIPLE CONTROL RECORDER Filed June 27. 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 magi . INNTORS.

WWW/m M155 A211. 066.

#19045 K1100 Fh.

fi'wa/mfim PH 1 a 5 B a 5% 5 y 8, 1942. w. N. KELLOGG VETAL 2,291,475

AIRPLANE MULTIPLE CONTROL RECORDER Filed June 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m w n 'INVENTORi. W/NTHROP Mus/122mm BY A Mal/ZZZ m i g Patented Jul 28, 1942 AIRPLANE MULTIPLE CONTROL RECORDER Winthrop Niles Kellogg and Hans Rudolph,

Bloomington, Ind.,

assignors to Indiana University Foundation, Inc., Bloomington, Incl, a

I corporation Application June 21, 1940, Serial No. 342,620

2 Claims. (01. 234-71).

This invention relates to a pilot-response recorder.

The chief object of this invention is to obtain a permanent record of the control of an airplane by a student or pilot during training or-examination exercise or problem.

The chief feature of this invention is to provide a permanent recording device with a plu= rality of recording elements, such as pens or pencils, each of which is responsive to apar ticular control of an airplane.

An airplane is maneuvered by controlling the rudder, the elevator and the ailerons. When these are neutrally positioned and there are no other factors involved, the airplane will fly a straight line, horizontal course. For take-d, landing, banking and turning, these elements are operated from their neutral positions the desired amount to effect the desired purpose or action of the airplane.

The actual maximum amount of permissible control in,opposite directions relative to the new tral position may and usually does vary for each type of control. 7

One feature of the present invention is to translate the respective actual amounts of control imposed to a working" range and by a direct proportioning arrangement.

Another feature of the present invention is to simultaneously record all movements of the controls so that for any given instant all the controls imposed upon the plane are recorded.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a manual control for the power device ern= ployed to move the record member to start and stop the movement thereof.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a manually operable indicator which the instructor or examiner can operate to designate on the record member the start and finisher the problem or examination, or any unusual control occurrence.

Other objects and features will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view, slightly in perspective, of a clock power embodiment of the invention and detached from the airplane.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodi== scale.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, looking down on,

the proportioning end of the embodiment.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar views of comparative records including good, average and "poor" controls of an airplane during take-oil, turns and landings, respectively, each figure for each airplane movement illustrating the controls imposed upon the three controlling elements of the airplane.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a recording device as well as showing the relative positions of the supply, pressure and rewind rolls together with the platen, et cetera.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a sinusoidal faced cam, dash lines indicatinga reverse form or reverse sine face modification thereof.

In Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, Iii indicates one side plate and M an opposite plate, each provided with angularly projecting ends iila and Ma, respectively, suitably secured thereto and r in the form of angles and by which the device may be mounted in a suitable position in the cockpit of the airplane. The device is so arranged it may be positioned, if desired, in the tail portion of the fuselage inasmuch as the controls are of the remote operable type. The two plates at and H are connected by the spacing members 53, M and i5, and a spacing member opposite spacing member is, not shown in the figures.

The spacing member is, seeFigs. l, 2 and 7, has frictionally mounted thereon a plurality of small rubber wheels it which are adapted to bear upon a relatively large roller i'i shown only in Fig. 7. The paper strip it passes between roller ll and wheels it and is derived from the supply roll portion ill, see Figs. 1, 2 and 7, sultably mounted as at 29. The strip 88 passes over the platen or plate portion 2!, see Fig. 7, having the groove arrangement Zia, see Fig. 3, at each end to receive the side edge of paper iii. The paper i8 passes beneath the cross member M, the latter being slotted longitudinally at Ma for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

Whenever it is desired to apply tension to the roll is which is the supply roll, there may be provided the crossbar 22 which mounts spring fingers 23 and same may be adjustably secured on said member 22, if desired. The opposite ends of the member 22 are carried by the arms 24 pivoted at 25 and by moving these arms toward and away from the axis of the roll IS, the pressure of the spring fingers 23 on the roll will be increased or decreased accordingly.

A clock mechanism indicated generally by the mounted in the side plate ll.

letter A in Fig. 1, is preferably of the key-wound type, the spring of which is wound by means of the key B. This clock mechanism A is supported A member 29, see lower left-hand portion of.-

Fig. 1, is connected by a wire Ill enclosed within a flexible cable portion ii. the two constituting a Bowden wire and the wire terminates in a knob or other manually operable member positioned so as to be conveniently available to the instructor or examiner when riding in the airplane. This knob, etc., is omitted for clearness. The mechanism for starting and stopp n the clock movement, and, therefore, the tape or strip movement, may be of conventional character and reference thereto will be had hereinafter. This wire It constitutes the master control of the device and starts and stops the operation thereof through the member 29 and said mechanism insofar as accurate recording is concerned. The lower end of member 30 projects beyond member 29 to which it is adJustably secured.

The crossbar ll-see Fig. 3-carries a support 32 and slidably mounted thereon .for lateral movement parallel to the crossbar I4 is the base structure 33 and to the same is connected a wire 34 that extends through the tubular element 3! This tubular structure 35 has secured to it the flexible cable 38 so that the wire 34 extended therethrough and cable 86 constitute another Bowden wire structure that terminates adjacent the termination of the Bowden wire structure 30-", previously described, and for a like purpose, to-wit, for instructor or examiner operation. The sole purpose of this control is to indicate on the tape the starting or the stopping instant of the problem or test. I

The structure for indicating the latter on the tape it includes a pencil arrangement, indicated generally by the letter C, and it is to be understood the lead carrying portion thereof is normally constrained into tape or sheet contact. The writer structure C associated with the wire 34 and base 33, therefore, normally draws a straight line at one side of the chart paper, which line constitutes a base or time line common to all recorders or writers hereinafter to be described. Whenever the Bowden wire N is operated, the writer C is caused to move away from the plate ii and toward the plate ill a slight amount and this is indicated on the chart paper therebeneath as a departure from that straight line. At the conclusion of the test or the problem, the second actuation of the Bowden wire 34 in conduit 88 provides another transverse mark on the tape. /In place of the pencil structure referred to, an inking pen structure may be employed equally as well.- Since there are included in the invention three additional pencil structures, reference will be had for the detailed description thereof to that set forth hereinafter.

Carried by the plate ii is a block 31 and spaced therefrom is a block 38, the latter being suitably le plate ll in turn carried by the lower portion of the plate Ii. see Fig. 2. The blocks 81 .and I! are suitably apertured as at ll and 42.

respectively, and extending through the block and the plate II are the several tubes as. These tubes are of equal length. These tubes are each secured against relative rotation by suitable means 44, as.shown. The outer ends of these tubes are closed as at 45. Each of the'tubes is provided with an elongated longitudinal slot 0 that extends from the block as toward the block I1. The block I. also is vertically grooved as at I! and these grooves register with the slots ll. slidable in each of these grooves is a triangulariy shaped cam ll. Herein the three cams 4e are shown each having a different angularlty.

Thereasouforthesediiferentanglesiaas follows:

The airplane is provided with three controls. as before described, and the actual amount of control movement exercised or possible, for each of these controls is different. The control to the rear, in the three figures represents the rudder control. The intermediate control in the three figures represents the elevator control. The forwardcontrol represents the aileron controls.

To each of the lower ends of these cam plates there is mounted a clamping fixture II and this clamping fixture clampingly mounts a wire II. the latter being slidable through the coil tube II.

This constitutes a Bowden wire structure. The

opposite end of the wire I. is oonected to the control mechanism proper or to that part of the airplane controlled by the aforesaid control. so that the amount of control movement by the ailerons, elevator or rudder. respectively, is, through the wire ll. transmitted to the cam I connected to that wire and the cam 48 is raised or lowered from the neutral position an amount equal to the amount of control movement execcised on the airplanecontrol or controlled element. It will be observed, see Fig. 1, that the rearward plate 40 or rudder control plate is relatively short and has a relatively larger included angle between its block groove receivable edge and its upper inclined edge than the elevator cam plate and the latter has a similarly larger angle than the angle of the aileron control cam plate.

Mounted within each of the tubes 40 and slidable therein is a rod structure 62. These rods are of different lengths for reasons hereinafter to be set forth. Positioned beneath each of the several tubes 43 and extending from plate II to plate In and suitably secured thereto are the guide rods 53 parallel to rods 82. A sleeve II is slidable on each guide rod. It is normally conslrained by spring 55 hearing on the end of the sleeve 54 and in two instances that end remote from the plate II. The opposite end of the spring 55 is retained by an adjustable collar I adjustably secured to the rod 53 as at U.

Rigid with each sleeve 64, see particularly Fig. 7, is a bracket structure it which has a projectlng portion as that mounts one of the pencil or pen structures indicated by the letter C. This bracket structure may be shifted longitudinally supported by the standards I! carried by an along said sleeve 54 and may be tilted slightly in angular relation to the axis of the sleeve. The bracket is secured as at II in the said adjusted position.

Rigid with the sleeve I is a plate portion II and the rod 52 may be rigid therewith. Hence. by reason of the spring 58 the rod 52 is always constrained toward the right in the several figures and thus isconstrained into engagement .with the inclined edge 48a of the cam member 48. If desired, this rod 52 adjacent cam 48 may have an inclined edge complementarily formed for such engagement.

' It will be apparent, therefore, that the three rods 52 have like movement incident to individual cam reciprocation and, therefore, the bracket 58 will have corresponding movement,-and consequently, the pen or indicator carried by the respective bracket will have movement trans- It also will be noted the lengths of the three rods 52 are dissimilarfor this purpose. If there is an available width of tape of say 7"and the r so immediately adjacent the plate M is reserved for problem starting and stopping indication, the remaining 6 may be divided as follows:

The opposite side to an extent of or so is not utilized for recording or it may have time indicia intervals printed thereon. vening 6", since there are three indicators, or recorders provided, would each have a possible range of indication on the tape or strip of 2". Consequently, when the cams are positioned in neutral position, the bracket 58 of the aileron indicator or recorder would be positioned about 1 to 1%" from the edge of the sheet it; closest to plate ii. The elevator indicator or recorder supporting bracket 58 would be positioned 2" therefrom and 2 beyond the same would be posiioned rudder indicator or recorder supporting bracket 58, reference being had to pen C carried by each bracket.

Thus, the area of the tape transverse to its longitudinal length or feeding direction may be properly divided so that each recorder has an equal increment or interval available for recording purposes. As the cam is elevated or lowered from the neutral position, the corresponding recorder or indicator is moved toward the left or right, respectively, from the neutral position to indicate the departure from that neutral position required for the control of the airplane under the given problem or conditions. Briefly, the sequence of operation is as follows:

Assuming the recording device being properly installed and properly connected and assuming further the main spring of the clock. mechanism has been properly wound, if a record is desired for take-off after the engine has been properly warmed up and the take-off is to be attempted,

the examiner or instructor operates the'Bowden wire it to start tape feeding. When the student or person being examined then takes over the controls for the purpose of taking ofi after having previously tried .all controls to see that they are free and properly working, the instructor operates, the Bowden wire 34 which places a mark upon the tape, which is now feeding.

The student or examiner in taking off the airplane actuates the necessary airplane controls and to the degree deemed necessary.

This actuation, and the amount of same is translated by Bowden wires 50 to the corresponding cams t8. Each cam translates that particular control movement into linear movement of the corresponding ruling pen or pencil transverse to the direction of tape feeding. Thus a permanent simultaneous record is obtained of take-off controls. If that is the only problem, at the conclusion of the take-off, the instructor or examiner will again operate the Bowden wire 36 The inter verse to the movement of the sheet, tape or strip to indicate the conclusion of that problem and then also operates the Bowden wire 30 to stop tape feeding.

Fig. 4 shows three permanent records of this particular problem. The one at the left shows a good take-ofl. This probably is one made by an instructor or examiner pilot. The middle group of records in Fig. 4 will be the record obtained from an average pilot or one that is a satisfactory pilot. The three groups illustrated in the right hand portion of Fig. 4 illustrate the control exercised by what would be termed a poor pilot, resulting in a poor take-off. The vertical dotted line in each of the three portions of the figure indicates the instant that the airplane has left the ground.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a similar set of records relating to the control of an airplane in making a left (L) and right (R) turn.

In Fig. 6 there isillustrated a similar set of records of the control of an airplane in a landing problem. The vertical dotted lines in each of the three portions of this figure indicate the instant the airplane has touched the ground on its first contact therewith. It is noted that these three charts do not disclose the indication thereon which is made by the problem start and stop pen or pencil carried by the members 3233. The graduation marks on the bottom of the charts, Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are time interval marks printed on the sheet.

A complete fight record, it is obvious, could he made equally as well. The rate of tape feeding is approximately three inches per minute or one-quarter inch per five seconds and the roll iii is approximately 400 feet or 1,600 minutes flying time recording capacity. This is more than a full day.

It is to be observed that the angle of the cam face ltd is preferably made such that the maximum range of possible control movement of the airplane control may be applied to the available interval or increment of the chart.

It also is to be observed and as comprehended within the scope of this invention, that the cam face We for certain purposes, need not neces sarily be a straight or plane face but, for ex ample, it might be of sinusoidal character, the inclined face of the present cam being the zero coordinate and the zero point of the sine curve registering with the neutral point of the present cam. In this way an actual record may be obtained for other purposes whenever it is required that movement of the airplane control be thus translated through the desired modifier. Such a modifier is shown in Fig. 8 wherein we indicatesa sinusoidal cam having modifying face Mile: of sine type. It may have a reverse sine face M82) shown by dash lines. The neutral point of the airplane control would occur at notisdthatthestriplipassesiromthe supply roll I! mounted on shaft or mounting II over the platen portion 2i and thence ieeds over the roll I! being held thereon by the friction wheels I. mounted on shaft II and the tape then winds upon the roll 2. previously ducribed and carried by the shait I'I driven by the chain 21a, see Fig.

a conventional pencil, ink writer or stylus, and inthelatterinstancethe sheetmaybesuriace coated as by lampblack or paraflin and the stylus empliilcation has been oi linear indicating type.

l,inturndrivenbytheclockmechanismandcontrolled by wire II.

It will be remembered the rod II mounts the sleeve I! which at one end has an ear Ii to which issecured or against which abuts the reciprocating rod l2 slidable in the tube 43, the other end oi that rod having operative engagement with the iace a oi the cam member 4a and within the slot I.

It also will be remembered the spring I! bearing at one end on the adjustable collar I! normally constrains the sleeve I so that the red I! does maintain that cam engagement. As shown in Fig. 3, the ioremost and intermediate sleeves are constrained by extension springs which normally tend to elongate. Due to the iact that the member ll oi the rearmost sleeve structure is relatively close to the plate ll-see Figs. 1 and 2, the spring I! in this rearmost unitary arrangement is a tension spring or one that normally tends to contract. The reason ior utilising this type oi spring here is because the plate II is too close to the sleeve to permit use oi, the other type oi spring.

In Fig. 'l the bracket ll having'the extension ll slidably supports a pencil carrier arrangement II. This carrier is locked in adjusted, vertical position by means 01' the threaded member 8|. The latter is extended and the free end thereon rides in the slot 4 oi the member ll. This insures proper sliding oi the sleeve on rod. 83 by reason oi movement oi rod It. In other words, member "in slot a, prevents vertical turning movement and horizontal turning movement and thus prevents binding oi the sleeve ll when sliding on the rod It.

The member II is tubular and in the bore .2

thereoi there is slidably supported the member 08, the latter terminating in a lead holder portion '4 retaining lead OI therein. The member 08 includes an outwardly directed pin ll that extends through an elongated slot 01 in the member II. About the member II and bearing on thepinliisanextensionspring ",the upper end oi which bears on the collar is adiustably clamped as at OI to the tube ll. Thus, the lead or pencil is always constrained by spring ll into sheet engagement to:- marking purposes. The construction is so arranged that in place oi the pencil there may be substituted a standard stylus typepenwhichwilliormaninkmarkon the sheet or tape it whenever desired.

The term record sheet in the claims is intended to include recording paper or chart .paper oi strip or tape type and linearly movable as well as of disc type and rotatable.

The term marking member" iorming a line record on such record sheet is intended to include In this type all record lines are permanently synchronized and have no error introduced thereon.

Furthermore. while the example has been described as applied to airplane control recording. the invention may be otherwise applied without departing from the basic disclosure oi the invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and ioregoing description. the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily su gest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be \vithin the broad scope of the invention. reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

i. In' combination, an elongated support, a marking member slidably supported thereby, means normally constraining said member to one position, and other means operatively associated with the marking member for moving same in opposition to the constraining means, said other means including a member reciprocable parallel to the support, cam means linearly reciprocable in a plane including the last mentioned reciprocable member. and support means ior the last mentioned reciprocable member including a slotted tube. the slotting being longitudinally directed to slidably receive the cam means, the reciprocable member being longitudinally slidable in the tube and projecting beyond the same opposite the cam engaging end ior connection to the marking member.

2. In combination. an elongated support, a marking member slidably supported thereby. means normally constraining said member to one position, and other means operatively associated with the marking member ior moving same in opposition to the constraining means, said other means including a member reciprocable parallel to the support, cam means linearly reciprocable in a plane including the last mentioned reciprocable member, and support means for the last mentioned reciprocable member including a slotted tube. the slotting being longitudinally directed to slidably receive the cam means, the reciprocable member being longitudinally slidable in the tube and projecting beyond the same opposite the cam engaging end ior connection to the marking member, and a grooved stationary support ior the cam means and confronting said reciprocable member. the cam-means being interposed therebetween and slidable in the support groove, the slotted tube having rigid connection with the grooved support.

WINTHROP NILES KELLOGG. HANS RUDOLPH. 

